Eyes Wide Open

Katya Kazbek

Among different cultures and religions, love and hate remain the two only constants, always clashing with each other, crumbling lives. This is a beautiful and devastatingly sad story, which could have happened anywhere in a society of intolerance. It also offers some very interesting insight on the lifestyle of Orthodox Jews.

josiahduke

Moody and very self-aware, yet fairly affecting. It's not about gay so much as it's about an affair, less about identity and more about morality.

dunjatello

I just saw this for the Israeli Film Festival in Melbourne: it was full house and it was an amazing film. I saw Brotherhood (about gay Nazis) for the Melbourne International Film Festival recently and both films, I must say, treated the subject matter well, displaying some brilliant film-making. Well done Tabakman

Edwin N

It's tragic, really, to come face to face with the heavy, gashing weight of tradition, religion and the sacred feeling of acceptance in a community. 'Eyes Wide Open' demonstrates that and repressed desires in an intimate and very subtle way..

ramosbarajas

Not knowing a lot about Orthodox Jewish Jerusalem may be a problem in understanding this film, but I feel as though the story itself is simple enough to understand that context is not too necessary. The performances were good, and it does a good job of presenting many aspects to the story. The story is very well written, remember that not everything can have a Hollywood ending.

Marcelo Pereira

I must say that final scene was pretty emotional... But, considering the film in it's fullness, I'm not really conviced. The relationship between the characters is too mechanic and their sexual desire is expressed with a fake roughness, it's not natural at all... Instead of exploring their passion, the film focuses too much on the social background.

El Biffo

Queer Hasidic Cinema :-)

m.jempson@btinternet.com

Another touching and tragic reminder of the suffocating impact of orthodox/fundamentalist religion. Once the certainties may have provided a (false) sense of security & righteousness, now we can see how it destroys people. What kind of God approves of the indecency of gay-bashing and 'ritual' (cleansing?) suicide. Some tender performances in a tough setting.